Enjoy a wild day out with the elephants, penguins and tigers that reside at Malaysia's national zoo.

The National Zoo, or Zoo Negara, might be 21 kilometres from the city centre, but it's worth the journey to see the huge variety of Malaysian and exotic mammals, reptiles and birds on display. The zoo occupies 44 hectares and has more than 5000 animals from more than 400 different species. Of these, the majority are fish and bird species while about a hundred are mammals and reptiles.The zoo is run by the Malaysian Zoological Society, a non-governmental organisation established to create the first local zoo for its citizens. Zoo Negara celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, and over time, the zoo has transformed from a small space with just a few animals to an open concept zoo with over 90% of its animals being kept in spacious living areas with surroundings that are similar to their native habitats. Once you've entered the zoo, watch out for the tram which you can hop on and off at various points near the 16 different exhibits. Some of the highlights are the Reptile Park where you can see saltwater crocodiles, freshwater crocodiles, tortoises and terrapins. There are also snakes to see and shiver over, including the reticulated python and a variety of frogs and toads that come from all over Malaysia. Another draw is the Malaysian Elephants exhibit, which has three elephants who have grown up at the zoo and are now each more than 20 years old. In the walk-in Bird Aviary you can see over 100 species from all around the world. If you fancy having an owl or a cockatoo on your shoulder for a photo, that can be arranged for an extra charge. As well as the exhibits, there are shows put on throughout the day, normally at 11 am and 3 pm, featuring sea lions, macaque monkeys and macaws. The penguin feeding is also worth watching, especially if you are travelling with kids.The National Zoo is open every day of the year except major religious and cultural holidays.